Wire-and-picket fence



(NOMOd-@w N. H. MOALLISTBR.

WIRE AND PICKET PENSE# Patented May 25, 1886.l

UNITED STATES NORMAN H. MCALLlSTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WIRE-AND-PICKET FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,619, dated May 25, 1886.

(No model.)

My invention has for its object the provision of an improved picket, of which, in suitable numbers and in connection with strandwires and posts, may be constructed a complete fence possessing approximately all the desirable points of the common picket fence as to closeness, together with the economical construction that is a Well-known characteristie of barb-wire fencing. A further object of the invention is to render barb fencingless dangerous 4than as at present constructed.

The invention relates, particularly, to the manner of securing pickets to wires; and it may be said to consist, in general, of pickets having a bifurcating longitudinal slot, strandwires which engage such slot and support the pickets, and devices for securing the pickets in position upon the wires, as hereinafter more fully described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying I drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate.

corresponding partsin each ligure.

Figure l is a perspective View of one of my improved pickets in position upon two Wires. Fig. 2 is a section through the same on Vertical line [t c, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a picket in the form of a warning ldevice upon a single wire, and Fig. 4 is a section on vertical line b b, saine figure. v

As the pickets herein described are readily applicable to wire fences that have been before constructed, and as the arrangement of posts and wires forms no part of my invention, I have deemed it unnecessary to show a plurality of pickets.

The picket A is preferably formed with a pointed head, B, and acorrespondingly-shaped depression or notch, F, in the opposite eX- tremity. Vaste of material in this construction is almost entirely avoided. For instance, when pickets are to be cut from a strip of wood having sufficient length for a number of them, all that is necessary is the formation of an initial head, similar to B, upon one end of the strip, after which the operation of forming the notch F will at the same time create the head of another picket, and so n to the end of the strip.

' The picketA has a longitudinal slot, E, eX- tending through it from edge to edge and terminating at a short distance from the base of the head B, thus bifurcating it and forming the lower portions, K.

[n constructing a fence the pickets are hung upon one or more wires, C, and any desired number of wires may be used, the pickets of course being cut toa corresponding length. Staples H (or equivalent devices) secure the pickets in' place upon the wires by being driven through both pendent portions K, and engaging the intervening wire, as shown.

ln applying the pickets to a ready-made barb-wire fence they -may be placed as close together and as near the barbs D as in practice may seem necessary. A fence formed in this latter'way can be made to possess the closeness of an ordinary picket fence, and at the same time the barb-wires will be rendered less dangerous to stock than before the pickets were applied.

By forming the pickets in comparatively short lengths and applying them only to the top wire of a barb fence, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a very efficient warning device will be secured.

In regard to the present state of the art I will say that I am aware that fences have been made and patented wherein vertical slats have been secured to longitudinal wires in various ways, and I am aware of one fence in particular which employs a short slot at each end of the slats; but l am not aware of any such construction as I have before described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A fence-picket, A, having a bifurcating longitudinal slot, E, which divides its main body into two similar pendent portions, K, said slot beginning at the lower end o f the picket and extending upward past its longitudinal center, substantially as described.

2. A fence-picket, A, havingapointed head, B, a notch, F, in the opposite end, conforming to the dimensions of said pointed head, and having a longitudinal slot, E,which divides the body into two similar portions, K, depending from the head, substantially as described.

3. A fence composed of pickets having a longitudinal slot which divides their bodies into two similar portions pendent from a headportion, one or more wires which are engaged by such slot and which support the pickets, and devices for securing the pickets in place upon the wire or wires, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A fence composed of pickets having a bifureating slot beginning at their lower end and extending upward past their longitudinal center, one or more wires which are engaged l by such slot and which support the pickets, and devices for securing the pickets in relative position upon the Wire or wires, whereby 15 the lower end of the pickets will preponderate and retain them, head uppermost, upon a single wire, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NORMAN H. MCALLSTER. Vitnesses:

F. G. KEENS, (l. H. MILLER. 

